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English 1b3 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

non - prefix

Q1/ Is there a way to know when you can and cannot use the prefix non before a word to indicate that someone or something is not a particular thing or does not do a particular thing?

Q2/ Further, when do we use the dash between the prefix and the word? I know that sometimes non is actually a part of the word and not a prefix at all, so maybe this is exclusively when we use the dash.

Thanks
  

Top answer

English 1b3 Q1/ Is there a way to know when you can and cannot use the prefix non before a word to indicate that someone or something is not a particular thing or does not do a particular thing? You always can unless there is an established word in "un-" or the equivalent with the proper meaning. For example, you can't make "non-possible" because that niche is already filled by "impossible".

— Enoon

  • English 1b3 Q1/ Is there a way to know when you can and cannot use the prefix non before a word to indicate that someone or something is not a particular thing or does not do a particular thing?
  • You always can unless there is an established word in "un-" or the equivalent with the proper meaning.
  • For example, you can't make "non-possible" because that niche is already filled by "impossible".
  • OK, you can, but it would be a nonce word and probably too cute.
  • But you are free to make things like "non-glasnost" if the meaning is clear in context.
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2 Answers
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English 1b3Q1/ Is there a way to know when you can and cannot use the prefix non before a word to indicate that someone or something is not a particular thing or does not do a particular thing?
You always can unless there is an established word in "un-" or the equivalent with the proper meaning. For example, you can't make "non-possible" because that niche is
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enoonEnglish 1b3Q1/ Is there a way to know when you can and cannot use the prefix non before a word to indicate that someone or something is not a particular thing or does not do a particular thing?You always can unless there is an established word in "un-" or the equivalent with the proper meaning. For example, you can't make "non-possible" because that niche is already
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